Clutch.



R. Rum Y ROGER.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 20, 1913.

1,175,014. Patented m 14,1916.

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CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1913- 1,175,014. Patented Maf.14,i 916.

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R. RuB|6 Y ROGER.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, I9I3.

1,175,014. Patented Mar. 14,1916.

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RAMON RUBIo Y ROGER, 0E BARCELONA, SPAIN.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented. Mar. 14, 1916.

Application filed March 20, 1913. Serial No. 755,775.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ltaarx RUBI Y ROGER, a subject of the Kingof Spain,residing at Corcega 2'28, l3arcelona, Spain, have invented certain. newand useful Improvements in Clutches, ofv which'the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to apparatus for obtaining an automatic andadjustable progressive action of friction clutches.

The object of the apparatus about to be described is to obtain anautomatic progressive start in all clutches to which it is applied andfor which the apparatus effects .the automatic graduation of thepressure applied to the clutch. To this end the actionof one or severalauxiliary springs combined with that of a liquid check is employed. Theliquid check is connected to the operating lever of the clutch and theauxiliary springs are placed directly between the liquid check and themain spring of the clutch, or between the said spring and the clutch insuch a way that the auxiliary spring or springs form an elasticconnection between the operating lever and the moving parts of theclutch.

The function of the liquid check is to oppose itself during the firstfew moments after the start, with a decreasing resistance, to the actionof the main spring or springs. In order that the liquid check may actand in order also that its action may be decreasing, there is placedbetween it and the clutch an elastic member consisting in particular ofthe auxiliary spring or springs above mentioned unless the clutch byreason of its constructionalready possesses such springs in one form oranother which impart to it ,tlie'necessary elasticity. In this way it.is insured that when starting and when the frictional parts are alreadyin contact and not able to move relatively to each other, the liquidcheck with the operating lever will still be further moved by the actionof the main spring, thus varying the tension of the auxiliary sprmgsbetween very wide limits, so that, the pressure on the clutch which isthe result of the action of the main spring, the liquid check and theauxiliary springs, Increases progressively or gradually.

The essential parts of the apparatus,

namely, theliquid check, and the auxiliary springs maybe applied 1nvarious Ways.

The liquid check is always connected to the operating lever and theauxiliary springs may be placed either between the main spring and theclutch or between the operating lever and the main spring and also inboth ways combined. In any case the auxiliary springs always form anelastic member placed between the liquid check and the moving parts ofthe clutch. When the auxiliary springs are placed between the clutch andthe main spring, they are com pressed when the clutch is thrown intoaction and expand when the clutch is thrown out of action. In the secondcase they expand when the clutch is thrown into action and arecompressed when it is thrown out of action. The compression in the firstcase and the expansion in the second case are' greater clearness and byway of example there are shown in the drawings accompanying the presentspecification several figures which indicate diagrammatically severalforms which among others the present apparatus may assume.

Figure 1 shows my improved device in elevation; Fig. 2 shows amodification; Fig. 3 shows a constructional form of my device having twoauxiliary springs; Fig. 4 illustrates a further modification; Fig. 5shows the device as applied to a cone clutch; Fig. 6 illustrates adevice according to the invention applied to a disk clutch of the HeleShaw type; Fig. 7 shows a further modification.

All the figures are drawn to a variable scale.

In Fig. 1, E is the clutch, R is the mainspring thereof, F is the liquidcheck which has an orifice which can be regulated by the screw 9, S isthe auxiliary springand T is the operating lever. When, the clutch is inaction the spring R transmits its thrust by the part K to the spring Swhich in its turn transmits the pressure by N and V and the lever L tothe moving parts of the clutch E. When the lever T is pulled the partmoves toward the right, thereby allowing the spring S to expand and thehalves of the clutch to come apart until by striking against the stopcollar M on the bar V the separation of the moving parts" of which issimilar to those in F igI 1. The

of the clutchis produced. During this operation the liquid check offersno resistance. In order to throw the clutch into action again itsuflices to relax the pull on the lever T and the main spring R thenacts on the part K which it moves toward the left thuscompressing thespring S slowly owing to the resistance of the liquid check to themovement of the part K. The com pression of the spring S throws theclutch into action and as this is effected gradually by the action ofthe liquid check F the starting is also gradual. The gradual throwinginto action of the clutch will vary according as the liquid checkorifices are constant or vary with the stroke are adjustable or not, orare open or closed by valves under a. constant or variable load or anyother combination which can be produced from these difi'erent kinds.

In Fig. l the gradual action is regulated by means of the screw 9 whichis adapted to close the orifice for the outlet of-the liquid to agreateror lesser extent.

Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically another arrangement of the essentialparts. IVhile the clutch is in action the main spring R transmits itsthrust entirely through the parts K and L to the clutch E because theauxiliary spring is then slack. By pulling the lever T the spring S iscompressed, thus neutralizing wholly or partially the action of thespring R upon the clutch until the stop M (which may be dispensed with)strikes against the part K thus producing the separation of the movingparts of the clutch. To throw the clutch into action it sutfices torelax the pull, on the lever T and the auxiliary spring S then expandsmore or less slowly according to the action of the liquid check F sothat the clutch is then applied with an increasing pressure which isproportional to the diiference of the pressures of It and S whichreaches the maximum when thepressure of the spring S is neutralized.

In Fig. 3 is shown a view which is'a combination of the preceding forms.There are two auxiliary springs U and S, the first one being placedbetween the main spring and the liquid check and the second between thesaid. main spring and the moving parts-of the clutch. The action isidentical with that indicated in the preceding figures. Vhen the clutchis thrown out of action U is extended and S is relaxed while the reversetakes place during the initial portion of the operation of throwing theclutch into action its duration being regulated by the liquid check F.The other parts are indicated by the same reference letters as in thepreceding figures.

In Fig. 4 is shown another form of ar 'rangement of the essential partsthe action clutch E together with that portion'of the sl1aftcorresponding thereto can be moved endwlse by compressing the auxiliaryspring S by means of the action of the main spring R regulated by theliquid check F. The clutch is thrown into action by the compression ofthe spring S. P is the bracket or standard which carries the clutch andthe other parts are indicated by the same reference letters asheretofore.

Fig. 5 illustrates an application of the apparatus shown to a coneclutch in which the male cone is covered with leather. The main springis a steel spiral which is contained in the sleeve which surrounds theshaft; the

liquid check, lettered F, is in the form of a circular sector with awing-shaped piston connected to the revolving shaft'which in its turn isconnected to the operating lever- The periphery of the male coneis-elastic, owing to a number of saw cuts in it and constitutes theauxiliary spring. The said cuts are indicated by the letter S. Theclutch is thrown into action by the compression of the spring S which isgradual owing to the action of the liquid check F.

In Fig. 6 is shown an application of the invention to a disk clutch ofthe f I-Iele Shaw type. The main spring is contained in the interior ofthe clutch and is not visible in the figure. S indicates the auxiliaryspring and F the liquid check with the regulating screw 9. By pullingthe lever T the clutch is thrown out of action by the spring S whichcounteracts that of the main spring. lVhen the lever T is released thespring S is released slowly by the action of the liquid check andgradually throws the clutch into action.

Fig. 7 illustratesanother method of'application. The clutch is composedof leather cones and there are two auxiliary springs U and S, a mainspring R and the liquid check F connected to the operating pedal T. Theauxiliary spring or more properly the set of auxiliary springs S isconstituted by a number of'india rubber disks placed underneath theleather with which the male cone is covered. Throwing the clutch intoaction produces the flattening of the disks S and the slackening of thespring U which acts by opposition which diminishes as the liquid check Fyields.

The construction of Fig. 5 is equivalent to that of Fig. 1. that of Fig.6 to that of- Fig. 2 and that of Fig. 7 to that of Fig. 3.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is 1' 1. A friction clutch comprising a main.

main spring, inorder to obtain an automatically progressive clutchaction.

2. A friction clutch comprising a main spring, an auxiliary spring formodifying the action of the said main spring, an operating leverconnected to the clutch and to the said main'spring, a bar for saidspring, a sleeve adapted to slide on said bar, and'connected to saidoperating lever, and a liquid check connected to said lever.

3. A friction clutch, comprising a main spring by means of which theclutch is operated, an operating lever for said clutch, a liquid checkconnected to said operating lever and an auxiliary spring between theliquid check and the clutch.

4. A friction clutch, comprising a main spring, by means of Which saidclutch is operated, a bar for said main spring, a sleeve sliding on saidbar, an operating lever connected to said sleeve, a liquid checkconnected to said operating lever, an auxiliary spring between saidsleeve and the liquid check and a second auxiliary spring between thesleeve and the clutch.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RAMON RUBIO Y ROGER.

